Top 15 movies of the decade

Here’s a countdown of my 15 favorite films over the past decade. I’ll admit I’m not the world’s biggest fantasy fan. I did not even finish the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Maybe I’ll make that my new decade resolution (but then again, probably not). That being said, I think this list represents a nice mix of genres. We did not plan it this way, but my list is pretty different from Christina’s. Let the debating begin!

15. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind- It’s safe to say that there are thousands of movies in existence that deal with the subject of love. Leave it to Charlie Kaufman to find a way of tackling the pain of heartbreak and the optimism of new beginnings. It’s a shame that Jim Carrey didn’t keep the ball rolling after this performance.

14. 40-Year-Old Virgin- This movie wins my award for Best Promotional Poster. Before we knew what the whole Judd Apatow movie formula was like, it was refreshingly surprising to see the title character of The 40-year-old Virgin taken seriously. It was an R-rated movie with a heart. It was also the R-rated movie with the biggest laughs.

13. 4 Months, 3 weeks and 2 Days- Both sides of the abortion issue are presented in this Romanian masterpiece. Without any laws allowing women to get an abortion, they will seek out unsafe avenues as a means to secure an operation. But in one of the most horrifying long shots in movie history, it is hard to advocate the procedure and the irrevocable damages that are caused. This is a movie of long scenes without many cuts. The camera just focuses on its subjects. We are forced to look at the decisions these characters make and the anguish they have caused themselves.

12. The Hurt Locker- I didn’t love Saving Private Ryan. I admired the movie. I agree the first battle scene is probably the best war sequence ever made. But there was something about Tom Hanks’ character that didn’t sit right. He was too perfect a person. I want my war heroes to be a little messed up. I want their minds to represent the hell that war really is. I want my war protagonists to be like Sergeant William James. While Hanks’ character in Saving Private Ryan just wanted to get back home, Sergeant James wants to be in the heart of the action. To him, “war is a drug” and we question his role as leader when he puts the lives of others in danger so he can get his fix. Director Kathryn Bigelow deserves an Oscar for making feel like we’re in the war zone.

11. About A Boy- This is a low-key movie that hits every note perfectly. The low-key nature of this film is why About A Boy remains underrated. In case you don’t remember, this is the movie where Hugh Grant plays a sarcastic but charming bachelor. You might think this is too much of a stretch, but in all seriousness it is the best performance of his career. I love this movie because it seems so effortless. It’s the perfect movie for a rainy day.

10. Sideways- The movie begins with a knock on the door and ends with a knock on the door. What’s in between is this decade’s best adult comedy. There are huge laughs like the great wallet retrieval scene and also beautifully acted, emotional scenes like when we find out how Miles’ explanation for his choice of favorite wine is a metaphor for his life. Miles is flawed and neurotic but I sure hope he finds happiness behind that door.

9. No Country For Old Men- With all due respect to the late Heath Ledger, Javier Bardem portrayed the most captivating villain of the past ten years with the floppy-haired Anton Chigurh. The suspense was so high because not even Anton knew how the scene would end. It all depended on the coin toss Some complain that the movie goes downhill after the grizzly discovery at the motel. I don’t believe this is true. The rest of the movie speaks towards the randomness of life (just like that coin flip) and the reminder that sometimes evil plays fairly by its codes, as horrifying as they may be.

8. The Departed-First the negatives. I can see why people say this is Martin Scorsese stealing from his own playbook (“Gimme Shelter”, again?). And I have to admit that the last time I put the The Departed on I stopped it 15 minutes into the movie and watched Goodfellas instead. However, the first five times I saw The Departed, I was entertained more than almost any other movie this decade. Never has a movie like this contained as many plot holes as it does and still not have those flaws affect how much I love it. Most of it is because of just how good Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon were. When he’s not using the same song in several movies, Scorsese is the best at creating great moments with music. My favorite is when Collin Sullivan (DiCaprio) gets his arm broken right as The Rolling Stones’ “Let it Loose” reaches its climax

7. There Will Be Blood- There are certain movies I wish I was able to experience on the big screen. Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas come immediately to mind. As soon as Johnny Greenwood’s musical score screams as the sky turns ominously to night in the beginning of There Will Be Blood, I knew I was lucky to see this in the theater. This is the best looking and best sounding movie of the decade. For two-thirds of the movie I might have also called it the greatest film of the 00s. Paul Thomas Anderson’s audacious story finally falls off the track at the end but what’s left is a chilling character study similar to Charles Foster Kane.

6. Ratatouille- Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who disliked Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. I still can enjoy animated films though! There is still a little kid inside of me! Ratatouille is for anyone who has ever felt passionate about anything. You don’t need to be a cook to identify with how excited Remy is when he talks about the magic created by mixing different ingredients. Ratatouille is about following your dreams no matter how impossible they seem. It sounds like a cliché, but the movie is original enough to make it fresh. I love Ratatouille more than the other Pixar movies because it is the only one that isn’t bogged down by ho-hum action sequences (see The Incredibles or Wall-E) or superfluous characters created solely to keep children occupied but don’t really bring anything to the table (See Up). This was the decade of Pixar. It's hard to find someone who doesn't hold at least one Pixar movie as one of their favorites.

5. Inglourious Basterds- We Jews deserve to see this alternate ending of WWII. I first saw this movie in an empty theater the first day it came out. I really liked the movie right away, especially the incredible performance by Cristpoh Waltz. The second time I was in a crowded theater. What stood out most about the movie this time is the cathartic effect the ending had on the audience. More than anything, Inglorious Basterds speaks to the power of the cinema. The movie itself focuses on using film to move an audience. I personally felt that power as Tarantino gave me the feeling of revenge being served. When I see a Quentin Tarantino movie I know I’ll be able to just sit back and be completely entertained for the next 2-3 hours. No other director can currently do that.

4. Anchorman- The Citizen Kane of the 21st century? Ok, maybe not. But every decade end list should have a place for a movie that can make you laugh no matter how ridiculous or silly the jokes are. In the honored tradition of The Naked Gun and Dumb and Dumber, it is the most quotable comedy of the decade. A movie like this can only be great if the supporting cast is funny too. Although this is Will Ferell’s funniest performance, it would not have stood up to repeat viewings if not for parts like Paul Rudd’s sex panther scene or just about every single line that Steve Carrell’s Brick speaks. The supporting cast is the reason why Anchorman and The Office are great while shows like Eastbound and Down are just ok. I love Anchorman just as much as I love lamp.

3. Almost Famous- Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical movie about a young aspiring music journalist is a warm portrayal of the oft-ridiculed early 70s rock scene. Crowe pokes fun at the era, for example when Jeff, the lead singer, gives a philosophical rant about why he’s in a rock band before concluding that the chicks are great, but what makes the movie great is that each of these characters has a heart without the action ever getting too sappy. This is Crowe’s love letter to not only the early 70s music scene but also to friendship, passion, and the age of discovery. Side note: How long can Kate Hudson ride the good will earned by her performance in this movie?

2. Before Sunset- I didn’t love Before Sunrise because I thought Ethan Hawke’s Jessie was just too self absorbed. Maybe part of the reason I liked Before Sunset more is that his character is more sympathetic (other than the fact he could end up rekindling a one night stand while his wife and young child are thousands of miles away).He wrote a book based on his affair with Celine not just because it made for a good plot but because he can’t get her out of his head. I can forgive his narcissistic tendencies after seeing he really does feel torn. And then there’s the ending. Hands down, my favorite ending of any romantic movie I’ve ever seen. The waltz. The Nina Simone impersonation. And then the final exchange. It’s perfect.

1. Lost in Translation- The relationship between Bob and Charlotte will stay with me forever. The most beautiful moments of the film are the quieter ones. My favorite is the karaoke scene. We see how easy it is for Bob to fall in love with Charlotte while she’s singing “Brass In Pockets”. She’s special indeed. And then there’s Bob singing Roxy Music’s “More Than This” as Charlotte starts out blurry in the background to perfectly in focus. It may be late and they may be drunk, but there’s no doubt a deep connection has just been made. Like Before Sunset, the ending is perfect.. A few years ago, it was reported that special audio devices could pick up what Bob whispers to Charlotte. I never want to find out. Sometimes the imagination is better than reality.

Honorable mentions: Traffic, The Royal Tenenbaums, Chicago, Minority Report, Mystic River, The Dark Knight, Pan’s Labyrinth, Memento, Up, Superbad